SC orders government agencies and major telecom operators to justify agreement on 700 MHz band

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered government agencies to comment on the petition challenging the legality of the agreement between Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. broadcast frequency and other telecommunication frequencies assigned to them by the National Telecommunications Commission (CNT) .

READ: The SC requested to revoke the PLDT-Globe agreement on the use of the 700 MHz band

During Tuesday's bank sitting, the High Court asked the NTC, the Philippine Competition Commission and the two telecommunication companies to comment within 10 days on both the petition and the plea in favor of Temporary Prohibition Order (TRO) requested. by the lawyers Joseph Lemuel Baligod Baquiran and Ferdinand Tecson.

"The Court has asked for comments on the application also on [the] TRO plead, "said a court insider at the session.

The court's insider has upheld the action brought by the bench court requiring the NTC, PCC, PLDT / Smart, Globe and Liberty Broadcasting Network Inc. (now known as Tori Spectrum Telecom) respondents. to comment on the petition to revoke the "use" between PLDT / Smart and Globe.

In their 48-page petition, Baquiran and Tecson told the High Court that the original 700 MHz franchise was allocated to Liberty Broadcasting Network Inc. for television broadcasting and not for telecommunications.

At the same time, the petitioners also urged the High Court to issue a temporary restraining order prohibiting the PLDT / Smart and Globe from using the 700 MHz broadcast frequency and the following telecommunication frequencies: 2540-2545 MHz, 2580- 2595 MHz, 2535 -2540 and 2565-2580 MHz.

Both lawyers filed the application as taxpayers and consumers of telecommunications services and the Internet.

These frequencies were acquired by PLDT / Smart and Globe after buying 50-50 of all issued and outstanding shares of the Vega Telecom SMC shares for approximately 70 billion pesos.

The 700 MHz broadcast frequency would be very useful because it allows you to travel longer distances, which would require fewer cell towers and penetrate through walls, elevators and even underground car parks. / ee

READ: What was before: SMC vs. PLDT, Globe Telecom

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